BUKE SEXT.

Than passit was wtass off Feuiryher,And part off Marche off rycht degestioune;Apperyd than the last moneth off wer,The syng off somir with his suet sessoun.Be that Wallace off Dundaff maid him boune;5His leyff he tuk, and to Gilbank can fair.The rewmour raiss throuch Scotland vp and doune,With Ingliss men, that Wallace leiffand war.In Aperill quhen cleithit is, but weyne,The abill grounde be wyrking off natur,10And woddis has won thar worthy weid off greyne.QuhenNympheus, in beldyn off his bour,With oyle and balm fullfillit off suet odour,Faunis materis, as thai war wount to gang,Walkyn thair courss in euery casuall hour,15To glaid the huntar with thair merye sang.In this samyn tyme to him approchit newHis lusty payne, the quhilk I spak off ayr,Be luffis cass, he thoucht [for] to persewIn Laynryk toune, and thidder he can fayr:20At residence a quhill ramaynit thairIn hyr presence as I said off befor;Thocht Inglissmen was grewyt at his repayr,Yeit he desyrd the thing that sat him sar.The feyr off wer rewllyt him on sic wiss;25Fol. 34 aHe likit weyll with that gudlye to be;Quhill wald he think off danger for to ryss,And othir quhill out of hir presens fle.“To cess off wer it war the best for me;“Thus wyn I nocht bot sadnes on all syde.30“Sall neuir man this cowartyss in me se,“To wer I will, for chance that may betyd.“Quhat is this luff? it is bot gret myschance,“That me wald bryng fra armess wtterly.“I will nocht loss my worschip for plesance;35“In wer I think my tyme till occupy:“Yeit hyr to luff I will nocht lat for thy;“Mor sall I desyr hyr frendschip to reserue,“Fra this day furth than euir befor did I,“In fer off wer quhethir I leiff or sterue.”40Quhat suld I say, Wallace was playnly setTo luff hyr best in all this warld so wid;Thinkand he suld off his desyr to get;And so befell be concord in a tid,That scho [was] maid at his commaund to bid;45And thus began the styntyn off this stryff:Begynnyng band, with graith witnes besyd,Myn auctor sais, scho was his rychtwyss wyff.Now leiff in pees, now leiff in gud concord!Now leyff in blyss, now leiff in haill plesance!50For scho be choss has bath hyr luff and lord.He thinkis als, luff did him hye awance,So ewynly held be fauour the ballance,Sen he at will may lap hyr in his armyss.Scho thankit God off hir fre happy chance,55For in his tyme he was the flour off armys.Fortoune him schawit hyr fygowrt doubill face,Feyll syss or than he had beyne set abuff:In presoune now, delyuerit now throw grace,Now at vness, now in to rest and ruff;60Now weyll at wyll, weyldand his plesand luff,As thocht him selff out off aduersité;Desyring ay his manheid for to pruff,In curage set apon the stagis hye.The werray treuth I can nocht graithly tell,65In to this lyff how lang at thai had beyne:Throuch naturall courss off generacioune befell,A child was chewyt thir twa luffaris betuene,Quhilk gudly was, a maydyn brycht and schene;So forthyr furth, be ewyn tyme off hyr age,70Fol. 34 bA squier Schaw, as that full weyll was seyne,This lyflat man hyr gat in mariage.Rycht gudly men come off this lady ying.Forthyr as now off hyr I spek no mar.Bot Wallace furth in till his wer can ryng,75He mycht nocht cess, gret curage so him bar;Sotheroun to sla for dreid he wald nocht spar,And thai oft syss feill causis till him wrocht,Fra that tyme furth, quhilk mowit [hym sa sar,That neuir in warld out of his mind was brocht.]80Now leiff thi myrth, now leiff thi haill plesance;Now leiff thi bliss, now leiff thi childis age;Now leiff thi youth, [now] folow thi hard chance;Now leyff thi lust, now leiff thi mariage;Now leiff thi luff, for thow sall loss a gage85Quhilk neuir in erd sall be redemyt agayne;Folow fortoun, and all hir fers owtrage;Go leiff in wer, go leiff in cruell payne.Fy on fortoun, fy on thi frewall quheyll;Fy on thi traist, for her it has no lest;90Thow transfigowryt Wallace out off his weill,Quhen he traistyt for till haiff lestyt best.His plesance her till him was bot a gest;Throw thi fers courss, that has na hap to ho,Him thow our threw out off his likand rest,95Fra gret plesance, in wer, trawaill, and wo.What is fortoune, quha dryffis the dett so fast?We wait thar is bathe weill and wykit chance.Bot this fals warld, with mony doubill cast,In it is nocht bot werray wariance;100It is nothing till hewynly gowernance.Than pray we all to the Makar abow,Quhilk has in hand off justry the ballance,That he vs grant off his der lestand lowe.Her off as now forthyr I spek no mar,105Bot to my purposs schortly will I fayr.

Than passit was wtass off Feuiryher,

And part off Marche off rycht degestioune;

Apperyd than the last moneth off wer,

The syng off somir with his suet sessoun.

Be that Wallace off Dundaff maid him boune;5

His leyff he tuk, and to Gilbank can fair.

The rewmour raiss throuch Scotland vp and doune,

With Ingliss men, that Wallace leiffand war.

In Aperill quhen cleithit is, but weyne,

The abill grounde be wyrking off natur,10

And woddis has won thar worthy weid off greyne.

QuhenNympheus, in beldyn off his bour,

With oyle and balm fullfillit off suet odour,

Faunis materis, as thai war wount to gang,

Walkyn thair courss in euery casuall hour,15

To glaid the huntar with thair merye sang.

In this samyn tyme to him approchit new

His lusty payne, the quhilk I spak off ayr,

Be luffis cass, he thoucht [for] to persew

In Laynryk toune, and thidder he can fayr:20

At residence a quhill ramaynit thair

In hyr presence as I said off befor;

Thocht Inglissmen was grewyt at his repayr,

Yeit he desyrd the thing that sat him sar.

The feyr off wer rewllyt him on sic wiss;25Fol. 34 a

Fol. 34 a

He likit weyll with that gudlye to be;

Quhill wald he think off danger for to ryss,

And othir quhill out of hir presens fle.

“To cess off wer it war the best for me;

“Thus wyn I nocht bot sadnes on all syde.30

“Sall neuir man this cowartyss in me se,

“To wer I will, for chance that may betyd.

“Quhat is this luff? it is bot gret myschance,

“That me wald bryng fra armess wtterly.

“I will nocht loss my worschip for plesance;35

“In wer I think my tyme till occupy:

“Yeit hyr to luff I will nocht lat for thy;

“Mor sall I desyr hyr frendschip to reserue,

“Fra this day furth than euir befor did I,

“In fer off wer quhethir I leiff or sterue.”40

Quhat suld I say, Wallace was playnly set

To luff hyr best in all this warld so wid;

Thinkand he suld off his desyr to get;

And so befell be concord in a tid,

That scho [was] maid at his commaund to bid;45

And thus began the styntyn off this stryff:

Begynnyng band, with graith witnes besyd,

Myn auctor sais, scho was his rychtwyss wyff.

Now leiff in pees, now leiff in gud concord!

Now leyff in blyss, now leiff in haill plesance!50

For scho be choss has bath hyr luff and lord.

He thinkis als, luff did him hye awance,

So ewynly held be fauour the ballance,

Sen he at will may lap hyr in his armyss.

Scho thankit God off hir fre happy chance,55

For in his tyme he was the flour off armys.

Fortoune him schawit hyr fygowrt doubill face,

Feyll syss or than he had beyne set abuff:

In presoune now, delyuerit now throw grace,

Now at vness, now in to rest and ruff;60

Now weyll at wyll, weyldand his plesand luff,

As thocht him selff out off aduersité;

Desyring ay his manheid for to pruff,

In curage set apon the stagis hye.

The werray treuth I can nocht graithly tell,65

In to this lyff how lang at thai had beyne:

Throuch naturall courss off generacioune befell,

A child was chewyt thir twa luffaris betuene,

Quhilk gudly was, a maydyn brycht and schene;

So forthyr furth, be ewyn tyme off hyr age,70Fol. 34 b

Fol. 34 b

A squier Schaw, as that full weyll was seyne,

This lyflat man hyr gat in mariage.

Rycht gudly men come off this lady ying.

Forthyr as now off hyr I spek no mar.

Bot Wallace furth in till his wer can ryng,75

He mycht nocht cess, gret curage so him bar;

Sotheroun to sla for dreid he wald nocht spar,

And thai oft syss feill causis till him wrocht,

Fra that tyme furth, quhilk mowit [hym sa sar,

That neuir in warld out of his mind was brocht.]80

Now leiff thi myrth, now leiff thi haill plesance;

Now leiff thi bliss, now leiff thi childis age;

Now leiff thi youth, [now] folow thi hard chance;

Now leyff thi lust, now leiff thi mariage;

Now leiff thi luff, for thow sall loss a gage85

Quhilk neuir in erd sall be redemyt agayne;

Folow fortoun, and all hir fers owtrage;

Go leiff in wer, go leiff in cruell payne.

Fy on fortoun, fy on thi frewall quheyll;

Fy on thi traist, for her it has no lest;90

Thow transfigowryt Wallace out off his weill,

Quhen he traistyt for till haiff lestyt best.

His plesance her till him was bot a gest;

Throw thi fers courss, that has na hap to ho,

Him thow our threw out off his likand rest,95

Fra gret plesance, in wer, trawaill, and wo.

What is fortoune, quha dryffis the dett so fast?

We wait thar is bathe weill and wykit chance.

Bot this fals warld, with mony doubill cast,

In it is nocht bot werray wariance;100

It is nothing till hewynly gowernance.

Than pray we all to the Makar abow,

Quhilk has in hand off justry the ballance,

That he vs grant off his der lestand lowe.

Her off as now forthyr I spek no mar,105

Bot to my purposs schortly will I fayr.

Tuelff hundreth yer, tharto nynté and sewyn,Fra Cryst wes born the rychtwiss king off hewyn,Wilyham Wallace in to gud liking gais,In Laynrik toun amang his mortaill fais.110The Ingliss men, that euir fals has beyne,With Hesilryg, quhilk cruell was and keyn,And Robert Thorn, a felloune sutell knycht,Has founde the way, be quhat meyn best thai mycht,How that thai suld mak contrar to Wallace115Fol. 35 aBe argument, as he come vpon caceOn fra the kyrk, that was without the toune,Quhill thar power mycht be in harness boune.Schyr Jhon the Grayme, bathe hardy, wyss, and trew,To Laynrik come, gud Wallace to persew;120Off his weyllfayr as he full oft had seyne.Gud men he had in cumpany fyfteyne,And Wallace nyne; thai war na feris ma.Wpon the morn wnto the mess thai ga,Thai and thar men graithit in gudly greyn;125For the sesson sic oyss full lang has beyne.Quhen sadly thai had said thar deuotioune,Ane argwnde thaim, as thai [went] throuch the toun,The starkast man that Hesylryg than knew,And als he had off lychly wordis ynew.130He salust thaim, as it war bot in scorn;“Dewgar, gud day, bone Senyhour, and gud morn!”‘Quhom scornys thow?’ quod Wallace, ‘quha lerd the?’“Quhy, schir,” he said, “come yhe nocht new our se?“Pardown me than, for I wend ye had beyne135“Ane inbasset to bryng ane wncouth queyne.”Wallace ansuerd; ‘Sic pardoune as we haiff‘In oyss to gyff, thi part thow sall nocht craiff.’“Sen ye ar Scottis, yeit salust sall ye be;“Gud deyn, dawch Lard, bach lowch banyoch a de.”140Ma Sotheroune men to thaim assemblit ner.Wallace as than was laith to mak a ster.Ane maid a scrip, and tyt at his lang suorde:‘Hald still thi hand,’ quod he, ‘and spek thi word.’“With thi lang suerd thow makis mekill bost.”145‘Tharoff,’ quod he, ‘thi deme maid litill cost.’“Quhat causs has thow to wer that gudlye greyne?”‘My maist causs is bot for to mak the teyne.’“Quhat suld a Scot do with sa fair a knyff?”‘Sa said the prest that last janglyt thi wyff;150‘That woman lang has tillit him so fair,‘Quhill that his child worthit to be thine ayr.’“Me think,” quod he, “thow drywys me to scorn.”‘Thi deme has beyne japyt or thow was born.’The power than assemblyt thaim about;155Twa hundreth men that stalwart war and stout.The Scottis saw thair power was cummand;Schir Robert Thorn and Hesilryg at hand,The multitude wyth wappynys burnist beyne.The worthi Scottis, quhilk cruell was and keyne,160Fol. 35 bAmang Sotherone sic dyntis gaiff that tyd,Quhill blud on breid byrstyt fra woundis wyd,Wallace in stour wes cruelly fechtand;Fra a Sotheroune he smat off the rycht hand:And quhen that carle off fechtyng mycht no mar,165With the left hand in ire held a buklar.Than fra the stowmpe the blud out spurgyt fast,In Wallace face aboundandlye can out cast;In to gret part it marryt hym off his sicht.Schyr Jhone the Grayme a straik has tayne him rycht,170With hys gud suerd, vpon the Sotherone syr,Derffly to ded draiff him in to that ire.The perell was rycht awfull, hard, and strang;The stour enduryt merwalusly and lang.The Inglissmen gaderit fellone fast;175The worthi Scottis the gait left at the last.Quhen thai had slayne and woundyt mony man,Till Wallace in, the gaynest way thai can,Thai passit swne, defendand tham richt weill;He and Schyr Jhone, with suerdis stiff off steill,180Behind thair men, quhill thai the yett had tayne.The woman than, quhilk was full will off wayne,The perell saw, with fellone noyis and dyne,Gat wp the yett, and leit thaim entir in.Throuch till a strenth thai passit off that stede.185Fyftye Sotheroun wpon the gait was dede.This fayr woman did besines, and hir mycht,The Ingliss men to tary with a slycht,Quhill that Wallace on to the wood wes past;Than Cartlane craggis thai persewit full fast.190Quhen Sotheroun saw that chapyt was Wallace,Agayne thai turnyt, the woman tuk on cace,Put hir to dede, I can nocht tell yow how;Off sic mater I may nocht tary now.Quhar gret dulle is, bot rademyng agayne,195Newyn off it is bot ekyng of payne.A trew woman, had seruit hir full lang,Out off the toune the gaynest way can gang;Till Wallace tald how all this dede was done.The paynfull wo socht till hys hart full sone;200War nocht for schayme he had socht to the ground,For bytter baill that in his breyst was bound.Schir Jhone the Grayme, bath wyss, gentill, and fre,Gret murnynge maid, that peté was to se;And als the laiff that was assemblit thar,205Fol. 36 aFor pur sorou wepyt with hart full sar.Quhen Wallace feld thar curage was so small,He fenyeit him for to comfort thaim all.“Cess, men,” he said, “this is a butlass payne;“We can nocht now chewyss hyr lyff agayne.”210Wness a word he mycht bryng out for teyne;The bailfull teris bryst braithly fra his eyne.Sichand he said; “Sall neuir man me se“Rest in till eyss, quhill this deid wrokyn be,“The saklace slauchter off hir, blith and brycht.215“That I awow to the Makar off mycht,“That off that nacioune I sall neuir forber,“Yhong nor ald, that abill is to wer;“Preystis no wemen I think [nocht] for to sla,“In my defaut bot thai me causing ma.220“Schir Jhon,” he said, “lat all this murnyng be,“And for hir saik thair sall ten thousand de.“Quhar men may weipe, thar curage is the less;“It slakis ire off wrang thai suld radres.”

Tuelff hundreth yer, tharto nynté and sewyn,

Fra Cryst wes born the rychtwiss king off hewyn,

Wilyham Wallace in to gud liking gais,

In Laynrik toun amang his mortaill fais.110

The Ingliss men, that euir fals has beyne,

With Hesilryg, quhilk cruell was and keyn,

And Robert Thorn, a felloune sutell knycht,

Has founde the way, be quhat meyn best thai mycht,

How that thai suld mak contrar to Wallace115Fol. 35 a

Fol. 35 a

Be argument, as he come vpon cace

On fra the kyrk, that was without the toune,

Quhill thar power mycht be in harness boune.

Schyr Jhon the Grayme, bathe hardy, wyss, and trew,

To Laynrik come, gud Wallace to persew;120

Off his weyllfayr as he full oft had seyne.

Gud men he had in cumpany fyfteyne,

And Wallace nyne; thai war na feris ma.

Wpon the morn wnto the mess thai ga,

Thai and thar men graithit in gudly greyn;125

For the sesson sic oyss full lang has beyne.

Quhen sadly thai had said thar deuotioune,

Ane argwnde thaim, as thai [went] throuch the toun,

The starkast man that Hesylryg than knew,

And als he had off lychly wordis ynew.130

He salust thaim, as it war bot in scorn;

“Dewgar, gud day, bone Senyhour, and gud morn!”

‘Quhom scornys thow?’ quod Wallace, ‘quha lerd the?’

“Quhy, schir,” he said, “come yhe nocht new our se?

“Pardown me than, for I wend ye had beyne135

“Ane inbasset to bryng ane wncouth queyne.”

Wallace ansuerd; ‘Sic pardoune as we haiff

‘In oyss to gyff, thi part thow sall nocht craiff.’

“Sen ye ar Scottis, yeit salust sall ye be;

“Gud deyn, dawch Lard, bach lowch banyoch a de.”140

Ma Sotheroune men to thaim assemblit ner.

Wallace as than was laith to mak a ster.

Ane maid a scrip, and tyt at his lang suorde:

‘Hald still thi hand,’ quod he, ‘and spek thi word.’

“With thi lang suerd thow makis mekill bost.”145

‘Tharoff,’ quod he, ‘thi deme maid litill cost.’

“Quhat causs has thow to wer that gudlye greyne?”

‘My maist causs is bot for to mak the teyne.’

“Quhat suld a Scot do with sa fair a knyff?”

‘Sa said the prest that last janglyt thi wyff;150

‘That woman lang has tillit him so fair,

‘Quhill that his child worthit to be thine ayr.’

“Me think,” quod he, “thow drywys me to scorn.”

‘Thi deme has beyne japyt or thow was born.’

The power than assemblyt thaim about;155

Twa hundreth men that stalwart war and stout.

The Scottis saw thair power was cummand;

Schir Robert Thorn and Hesilryg at hand,

The multitude wyth wappynys burnist beyne.

The worthi Scottis, quhilk cruell was and keyne,160Fol. 35 b

Fol. 35 b

Amang Sotherone sic dyntis gaiff that tyd,

Quhill blud on breid byrstyt fra woundis wyd,

Wallace in stour wes cruelly fechtand;

Fra a Sotheroune he smat off the rycht hand:

And quhen that carle off fechtyng mycht no mar,165

With the left hand in ire held a buklar.

Than fra the stowmpe the blud out spurgyt fast,

In Wallace face aboundandlye can out cast;

In to gret part it marryt hym off his sicht.

Schyr Jhone the Grayme a straik has tayne him rycht,170

With hys gud suerd, vpon the Sotherone syr,

Derffly to ded draiff him in to that ire.

The perell was rycht awfull, hard, and strang;

The stour enduryt merwalusly and lang.

The Inglissmen gaderit fellone fast;175

The worthi Scottis the gait left at the last.

Quhen thai had slayne and woundyt mony man,

Till Wallace in, the gaynest way thai can,

Thai passit swne, defendand tham richt weill;

He and Schyr Jhone, with suerdis stiff off steill,180

Behind thair men, quhill thai the yett had tayne.

The woman than, quhilk was full will off wayne,

The perell saw, with fellone noyis and dyne,

Gat wp the yett, and leit thaim entir in.

Throuch till a strenth thai passit off that stede.185

Fyftye Sotheroun wpon the gait was dede.

This fayr woman did besines, and hir mycht,

The Ingliss men to tary with a slycht,

Quhill that Wallace on to the wood wes past;

Than Cartlane craggis thai persewit full fast.190

Quhen Sotheroun saw that chapyt was Wallace,

Agayne thai turnyt, the woman tuk on cace,

Put hir to dede, I can nocht tell yow how;

Off sic mater I may nocht tary now.

Quhar gret dulle is, bot rademyng agayne,195

Newyn off it is bot ekyng of payne.

A trew woman, had seruit hir full lang,

Out off the toune the gaynest way can gang;

Till Wallace tald how all this dede was done.

The paynfull wo socht till hys hart full sone;200

War nocht for schayme he had socht to the ground,

For bytter baill that in his breyst was bound.

Schir Jhone the Grayme, bath wyss, gentill, and fre,

Gret murnynge maid, that peté was to se;

And als the laiff that was assemblit thar,205Fol. 36 a

Fol. 36 a

For pur sorou wepyt with hart full sar.

Quhen Wallace feld thar curage was so small,

He fenyeit him for to comfort thaim all.

“Cess, men,” he said, “this is a butlass payne;

“We can nocht now chewyss hyr lyff agayne.”210

Wness a word he mycht bryng out for teyne;

The bailfull teris bryst braithly fra his eyne.

Sichand he said; “Sall neuir man me se

“Rest in till eyss, quhill this deid wrokyn be,

“The saklace slauchter off hir, blith and brycht.215

“That I awow to the Makar off mycht,

“That off that nacioune I sall neuir forber,

“Yhong nor ald, that abill is to wer;

“Preystis no wemen I think [nocht] for to sla,

“In my defaut bot thai me causing ma.220

“Schir Jhon,” he said, “lat all this murnyng be,

“And for hir saik thair sall ten thousand de.

“Quhar men may weipe, thar curage is the less;

“It slakis ire off wrang thai suld radres.”

Off thar complaynt as now I say no mar;225Off Awchinlek off Gilbank duelland thar.Quhen he hard tell off Wallace wexatioune,To Cartlane wood with ten men maid him boune.Wallace he fand sum part with in the nycht;To Laynryk toune in all haist thai thaim dycht.230The wache off thaim as than had litill heid;Partyt thair men, and diuerss gatis yeid.Schir Jhone the Grayme, and his gud cumpany,To Schyr Robert off Thorn full fast thai hy.Wallace and his to Hesilrige sone past,235In a heich houss quhar he was slepand fast;Straik at the dure with his fute hardely,Quhill bar and braiss in the flour he gart ly.The schirreff cryt; “Quha makis that gret deray?”‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘that thow has socht allday.240‘The womannis dede, will God, thow sall der by.’Hesilrige thocht it was na tyme to ly;Out off that houss full fayne he wald haiff beyne.The nycht was myrk, yeit Wallace has him seyne,Freschly him straik, as he come in gret ire,245Apon the heid, birstit throuch bayne and lyr.The scherand suerd glaid till his coler bayne,Out our the stayr amang thaim is he gayne.Gude Awchinlek trowit nocht that he was dede;Fol. 36 bThryss with a knyff stekit him in that stede.250The scry about raiss rudly on the streyt;Feyll off the layff war fulyeit wndir feyt.Yong Hesilryg and wicht Wallace is met;A sekyr strak Wilyham has on him set,Derffly to dede off the stair dang him doune.255Mony thai slew that nycht in Laynrik toune.Sum grecis lap, and sum stekit with in,Aferd thai war with hidwiss noyis and dyne.Schir Jhone the Grayme had set the houss in fyr,Quhar Robert Thorn was brynt wp bayne and lyr.260Twelf scor thai slew that was off Ingland born;Wemen thai lewit and preistis, on the morn,To pass thar way, off blyss and gudis bar;And swor that thai agayne suld cum no mar.Quhen Scottis hard thir fyne tythingis off new,265Out off all part to Wallace fast thai drew;Plenyst the toun quhilk was thair heretage.Thus Wallace straiff agayne that gret barnage.Sa he begane with strenth and stalwart hand,To chewyss agayne sum rowmys off Scotland.270The worthy Scottis, that semblyt till him thar,Chesit him for cheyff, thar chyftayne and ledar.Amer Wallang, a suttell terand knycht,In Bothwell duelt, king Eduuardis man full rycht.Murray was out, thocht he was rychtwyss lord275Off all that land, as trew men will racord.In till Aran he was duelland that tyd;And othir men, in this land durst nocht bide.Bot this fals knycht in Bothwell wonnand was;A man he gert sone to king Eduuard pas,280And tald him haill off Wallace ordinance,How he had put his pepill to myschance.And playnly was ryssyn agayne to ryng.Grewit tharat rycht gretly wes the king;Throuch all Ingland he gart his doaris cry285Power to get; and said, he wald planlyIn Scotland pass, that rewme to statut new.Feill men off wer till him full fast thai drew.The queyne feld weill how that his purpos was;Till him scho went, on kneis syne can him ass,290He wald desist, and nocht in Scotland gang;He suld haiff dreid to wyrk so felloune wrang:“Crystyne thai ar, yone is thar heretage;Fol. 37 a“To reyff that croune that is a gret owtrage.”For hyr consaill at hayme he wald nocht byde;295His lordis hym set in Scotland for to ryde.A Scottis man, than duellyt with Eduuard,Quhen he hard tell that Wallace tuk sic part,He staw fra thaim as priualé as he may;In to Scotland he come apon a day,300Sekand Wallace he maid him reddy boune.This Scot was born at Kyle in Rycardtoune;All Ingland cost he knew it wondyr weill,Fra Hull about to Brysto euirilk deill;Fra Carleill throuch Sandwich that ryoll stede,305Fra Douer our on to Sanct Beis hede.In Pykarté and Flandrys he hade beyne,All Normondé and Frans haill he had seyne;A pursiwant till king Eduuard in wer,Bot he couth neuir gar him his armes ber.310Off gret statur, and sum part gray wes he;The Inglissmen cald him bot Grymmysbé.To Wallace come, and in to Kile him fand;He tald him haill the tithandis off Ingland.Thai turnyt his nayme, fra [that] tyme thai him knew,315And cald him Jop; off ingen he was trew;In all his tyme gud seruice in him fand;Gaiff him to ber the armés off Scotland.Wallace agayne in Cliddisdaill sone raid,And his power semblit with outyn baid,320He gart commaund, quha that his pes wald tak,A fre remyt he suld ger to thaim mak,For alkyn deid that thai had doyne beforn.The Perseis peess and Schyr Ranaldis wes worn.Feill till him drew that bauldly durst abid,325Off Wallace kyn, fra mony diuerss sid.Schir Ranald than send him his power haill;Him selff durst nocht be knawine in battaillAgayne Sotheroun, for he had maid a band,Lang tyme befor, to hald off thaim his land.330Adam Wallace past out off Ricardtoun,And Robert Boid, with gud men off renoun.Off Cunyngayme and Kille come men off waill,To Laynrik socht, on horss a thousand haill.Schyr Jhone the Grayme, and his gud chewalré,335Schir Jhone off Tynto, with men that he mycht be,Gud Awchinlek, that Wallace wncle was,Mony trew Scot with that chyftayne couth pass;Thre thousand haill off likly men in wer,And feill on fute quhilk wantyt horss and ger.340

Off thar complaynt as now I say no mar;225

Off Awchinlek off Gilbank duelland thar.

Quhen he hard tell off Wallace wexatioune,

To Cartlane wood with ten men maid him boune.

Wallace he fand sum part with in the nycht;

To Laynryk toune in all haist thai thaim dycht.230

The wache off thaim as than had litill heid;

Partyt thair men, and diuerss gatis yeid.

Schir Jhone the Grayme, and his gud cumpany,

To Schyr Robert off Thorn full fast thai hy.

Wallace and his to Hesilrige sone past,235

In a heich houss quhar he was slepand fast;

Straik at the dure with his fute hardely,

Quhill bar and braiss in the flour he gart ly.

The schirreff cryt; “Quha makis that gret deray?”

‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘that thow has socht allday.240

‘The womannis dede, will God, thow sall der by.’

Hesilrige thocht it was na tyme to ly;

Out off that houss full fayne he wald haiff beyne.

The nycht was myrk, yeit Wallace has him seyne,

Freschly him straik, as he come in gret ire,245

Apon the heid, birstit throuch bayne and lyr.

The scherand suerd glaid till his coler bayne,

Out our the stayr amang thaim is he gayne.

Gude Awchinlek trowit nocht that he was dede;Fol. 36 b

Fol. 36 b

Thryss with a knyff stekit him in that stede.250

The scry about raiss rudly on the streyt;

Feyll off the layff war fulyeit wndir feyt.

Yong Hesilryg and wicht Wallace is met;

A sekyr strak Wilyham has on him set,

Derffly to dede off the stair dang him doune.255

Mony thai slew that nycht in Laynrik toune.

Sum grecis lap, and sum stekit with in,

Aferd thai war with hidwiss noyis and dyne.

Schir Jhone the Grayme had set the houss in fyr,

Quhar Robert Thorn was brynt wp bayne and lyr.260

Twelf scor thai slew that was off Ingland born;

Wemen thai lewit and preistis, on the morn,

To pass thar way, off blyss and gudis bar;

And swor that thai agayne suld cum no mar.

Quhen Scottis hard thir fyne tythingis off new,265

Out off all part to Wallace fast thai drew;

Plenyst the toun quhilk was thair heretage.

Thus Wallace straiff agayne that gret barnage.

Sa he begane with strenth and stalwart hand,

To chewyss agayne sum rowmys off Scotland.270

The worthy Scottis, that semblyt till him thar,

Chesit him for cheyff, thar chyftayne and ledar.

Amer Wallang, a suttell terand knycht,

In Bothwell duelt, king Eduuardis man full rycht.

Murray was out, thocht he was rychtwyss lord275

Off all that land, as trew men will racord.

In till Aran he was duelland that tyd;

And othir men, in this land durst nocht bide.

Bot this fals knycht in Bothwell wonnand was;

A man he gert sone to king Eduuard pas,280

And tald him haill off Wallace ordinance,

How he had put his pepill to myschance.

And playnly was ryssyn agayne to ryng.

Grewit tharat rycht gretly wes the king;

Throuch all Ingland he gart his doaris cry285

Power to get; and said, he wald planly

In Scotland pass, that rewme to statut new.

Feill men off wer till him full fast thai drew.

The queyne feld weill how that his purpos was;

Till him scho went, on kneis syne can him ass,290

He wald desist, and nocht in Scotland gang;

He suld haiff dreid to wyrk so felloune wrang:

“Crystyne thai ar, yone is thar heretage;Fol. 37 a

Fol. 37 a

“To reyff that croune that is a gret owtrage.”

For hyr consaill at hayme he wald nocht byde;295

His lordis hym set in Scotland for to ryde.

A Scottis man, than duellyt with Eduuard,

Quhen he hard tell that Wallace tuk sic part,

He staw fra thaim as priualé as he may;

In to Scotland he come apon a day,300

Sekand Wallace he maid him reddy boune.

This Scot was born at Kyle in Rycardtoune;

All Ingland cost he knew it wondyr weill,

Fra Hull about to Brysto euirilk deill;

Fra Carleill throuch Sandwich that ryoll stede,305

Fra Douer our on to Sanct Beis hede.

In Pykarté and Flandrys he hade beyne,

All Normondé and Frans haill he had seyne;

A pursiwant till king Eduuard in wer,

Bot he couth neuir gar him his armes ber.310

Off gret statur, and sum part gray wes he;

The Inglissmen cald him bot Grymmysbé.

To Wallace come, and in to Kile him fand;

He tald him haill the tithandis off Ingland.

Thai turnyt his nayme, fra [that] tyme thai him knew,315

And cald him Jop; off ingen he was trew;

In all his tyme gud seruice in him fand;

Gaiff him to ber the armés off Scotland.

Wallace agayne in Cliddisdaill sone raid,

And his power semblit with outyn baid,320

He gart commaund, quha that his pes wald tak,

A fre remyt he suld ger to thaim mak,

For alkyn deid that thai had doyne beforn.

The Perseis peess and Schyr Ranaldis wes worn.

Feill till him drew that bauldly durst abid,325

Off Wallace kyn, fra mony diuerss sid.

Schir Ranald than send him his power haill;

Him selff durst nocht be knawine in battaill

Agayne Sotheroun, for he had maid a band,

Lang tyme befor, to hald off thaim his land.330

Adam Wallace past out off Ricardtoun,

And Robert Boid, with gud men off renoun.

Off Cunyngayme and Kille come men off waill,

To Laynrik socht, on horss a thousand haill.

Schyr Jhone the Grayme, and his gud chewalré,335

Schir Jhone off Tynto, with men that he mycht be,

Gud Awchinlek, that Wallace wncle was,

Mony trew Scot with that chyftayne couth pass;

Thre thousand haill off likly men in wer,

And feill on fute quhilk wantyt horss and ger.340

The tyme be this was cummand apon hand;Fol. 37 bThe awfull ost, with Eduuard off Ingland,To Beggar come, with sexté thousand men.In wer wedis that cruell war to ken.Thai playntyt thar feild with tentis and pailyonis,345Quhar claryowns blew full mony mychty sonis;Plenyst that place with gud wittaill and wyne,In cartis brocht thar purwiance dewyne.The awfull king gert twa harroldis be brocht,Gaiff thaim commaund, in all the haist thai mocht,350To charge Wallace, that he sulde cum him till,Witht out promyss, and put him in his will;“Be causs we wait he is a gentill man,“Cum in my grace, and I sall saiff him than,“As for his lyff, I will apon me tak;355“And efftir this, gyff he couth seruice mak,“He sall haiff wage that may him weill suffice.“That rebald wenys, for he has done supprice“To my pepill oft apon awentur,“Agaynys me [that] he may lang endur.360“To this proffyr gaynstandand giff he be,“Her I awow he sall be hyngyt hye.”A yong squier, was brothir to Fehew,He thocht he wald dysgysit [ga] to persew,Wallace to se that tuk so hie a part;365Born sister sone he was to king Eduuart.A cot off armes he tuk on him but baid;With the harroldis full prewaly he raidTo Tynto hill with outyn residens,Quhar Wallace lay with his folk at defence.370A likly ost, as of sa few, thai fand;Till hym thai socht, and wald no langar stand:“Gyff ye be he that rewllis all this thing,“Credence we haiff brocht fra our worthi king.”Than Wallace gert thre knychtis till him call,375Syne red the wryt in presens off thaim all.To thaim he said; “Ansuer ye sall nocht craiff;“Be wryt or word quhilk likis yow best till haiff?”‘In wryt,’ thai said, ‘it war the liklyast.’Than Wallace thus began to dyt in hast:380“Thow reyffar king chargis me throw cass,“That I suld cum, and put me in thi grace.“Gyff I gaynstand, thow hechtis till hyng me:“I wow to God, and euir I may tak the,“Thow sall be hangyt, ane exempill to geiff385“To kingis off reyff, als lang as I may leiff.“Thow profferis me thi wage for till haiff;“I the defy, power and all the laiff,“At helpis the her, off thi fals natioun.“Will God, thow sall be put off this regioune,390“Or de tharfor, contrar thocht thow had suorne.Fol. 38 a“Thow sall ws se or nyne houris to morn,“Battaill to gyff, magre off all thi kyn;“For falsly thow sekis our rewme to wyn.”This wryt he gaiff to the harraldis but mar,395And gud reward he gart delyuer thaim thar.Bot Jop knew weyll the squier yong Fehew,And tald Wallace, for he wes euir trew.Than he command, that thai suld sone thaim tak:Him selff began a sair cusyng to mak.400“Squier,” he said, “sen thow has fenyeit armys;“On the sall fall the fyrst part off thir harmys,“Sampill to geyff till all thi fals natioune.”Apon the hill he gert thaim set him downe,Straik off his hed, or thai wald forthyr go.405To the herrold said syne with outyn ho;“For thow art falss till armys and maynsuorn,“Throuch thi chokkis thi tong sall be out schorn.”Quhen that was doyne, than to the thrid said he;“Armyss to juge thow sall neuir graithly se.”410He gert a smyth, with his turkas rycht thar,Pow out his eyne, syne gaiff thaim leiff to far.“To your falss king thi falow sall thou leid;“With my ansuer turss him his newois heid:“Thus sar I drede the king, and all his bost.”415His dum falow [led] hym on to thair ost.Quhen king Eduuard his herroldis thus has seyne,In propyr ire he wox ner wode for teyne,That he nocht wyst on quhat wiss him to wreke;For sorow almaist a word he mycht nocht spek.420A lang quhill he stud wrythand in a rage;On loud he said; “This is a fell owtrage,“This deid to Scottis full der it sall be boucht;“Sa dispitfull in warld was neuir wroucht.“Off this regioun I think nocht for to gang,425“Quhill tyme that I sall se that rybald hang,”Lat I him thus in till his sorow duell;Off thai gud Scottis schortly I will yow tell.Furth fra his men than Wallace rakit rycht;Till him he cald Schyr Jhon Tynto the knycht,430And leit him witt, to wesy him selff wald gaThe Ingliss ost, and bad him tell na ma,Quhat euir thai speryt, quhill that he come agayne.Wallace dysgysit thus bownyt our the playne.Betwix Cultir and Bygar as he past,435He was [sone] war quhar a werk man come fast,Dryfande a mere, and pychars had he to sell.“Gud freynd,” he said, “in treuth will thow me tell,Fol. 38 b“With this chaffar quhar passis thow treuly.”‘Till ony, Schyr, quha likis for to by;440‘It is my crafft, and I wald [sell] thaim fayne.’“I will thaim by, sa God me saiff fra payne;“Quhat price lat her, I will tak thaim ilkayne.”‘Bot half a mark, for sic pryss haiff I tayne.’“Twenty shillingis,” Wallace said, “thow sall haiff;445“I will haiff mer, pycharis and als the laiff.“Thi gowne and hoiss in haist thow put off syne,“And mak a chang, for I sall geyff the myne;“And thi ald hud, becauss it is thred bar.”The man wend weyll that he had scornyt him thar.450“Do, tary nocht, it is suth I the say.”The man kest off his febill weid off gray,And Wallace his, and payit siluer in hand.“Pass on,” he said, “thou art a proud merchand.”The gown and hoiss in clay that claggit was,455The hude heklyt, and maid him for to pass.The qwhipe he tuk, syne furth the mar can call;Atour a bray the omast pot gert fall,Brak on the ground. The man lewch at his fair;‘Bot thow be war, thow tynys off thi chaiffair.’460The sone be than was passit out off sicht,The day our went, and cummyn was the nycht.Amang Sotheroun full besyly he past;On athir side his eyne he gan to cast,Quhar lordis lay, and had thair lugeyng maid.465The kingis palyone, quhar on the libardis baid,Spyand full fast, quhar his awaill suld be,And couth weyll luk and wynk, with the ta E.Sum scornyt him, sum gleid carll cald him thar;Agrewit thai war for thair herroldis mysfayr.470Sum sperd at him, how [he] sald off the best.“For fourty pens,” he said, “quhill thai may lest.”Sum brak a pott, sum pyrlit at his E.Wallace fled out, and prewalé leit thaim be:On till his ost agayne he past full rycht.475His men be than had tane Tynto the knycht;Schyr Jhon the Grayme gert bynd him wondyr fast,For he wyst weill he was with Wallace last.Sum bad byrn him, sum hang him in a cord;Thai swor that he had dissawit thair lord.480Wallace be this was entryt thaim amang;Till him he yeid, and wald nocht tary lang.Syne he gart louss him off thai bandis new,And said, he was baith suffer, wyss and trew.To souper sone thai bownd but mar abaid.485Fol. 39 aHe tald to thaim quhat market he had maid;And how at he the Sotheroun saw full weill.Schyr Jhon the Grayme displessit was sumdeill,And said till him; “Nocht chyftaynlik it was,“Throw wilfulnes, in sic perell to pas.”490Wallace ansuerd; ‘Or we wyn Scotland fre,‘Baith ye and I in mor perell mon be,‘And mony othir, the quhilk full worthi is.‘Now off a thing we do sumpart amys.‘A litill slepe I wald fayne that we had;495‘With yone men syne luk how we may ws glaid.’The worthi Scottis tuk gud rest quhill ner day;Than raiss thai wp, till ray sone ordand thai.The hill thai left, and till a playne is gayne;Wallace him selff the wantguard he has tayne:500With him was Boid and Awchinlek but dreid,With a thousand off worthi men in weid.Alss mony syne in the mydwart put he;Schir Jhon the Grayme he gert thar ledar be:With him Adam young lord off Ricardtoun,505And Somerwaill a squier off renoun.The thrid thousand in [the] rerward he dycht,Till Waltir gaiff off Newbyggyn the knycht;With him Tynto that douchty wes in deid,And Daui son off Schyr Waltir, to leid.510Behynd thaim ner, the fute men gert he be;And bade thaim bid, quhill thai thar tyme mycht se:“Ye want wapynnys and harnes in this tid;The fyrst cowntir ye may nocht weill abid.”Wallace gert sone the chyftaynis till him call;515This charg he gaiff, for chance that mycht befall,Till tak no heid to ger, nor off pylage,“For thai will fle as wod [men] in a rage.“Wyne fyrst the men, the gud syne ye may haiff;“Than tak na tent off cowatyss to craiff.520“Throuch cowatyss sum lossis gud and lyff;“I commaund yow forber sic in our stryff.“Luk that ye saiff na lord, capteyne, nor knycht;“For worschipe wyrk, and for our eldris rycht.“God blyss ws, [that] may we in sic wiage525“Put thir falss folk out off our heretage.”Than thai inclynd all with a gudly will;His playne commaund thai hecht for to fullfill.

The tyme be this was cummand apon hand;Fol. 37 b

Fol. 37 b

The awfull ost, with Eduuard off Ingland,

To Beggar come, with sexté thousand men.

In wer wedis that cruell war to ken.

Thai playntyt thar feild with tentis and pailyonis,345

Quhar claryowns blew full mony mychty sonis;

Plenyst that place with gud wittaill and wyne,

In cartis brocht thar purwiance dewyne.

The awfull king gert twa harroldis be brocht,

Gaiff thaim commaund, in all the haist thai mocht,350

To charge Wallace, that he sulde cum him till,

Witht out promyss, and put him in his will;

“Be causs we wait he is a gentill man,

“Cum in my grace, and I sall saiff him than,

“As for his lyff, I will apon me tak;355

“And efftir this, gyff he couth seruice mak,

“He sall haiff wage that may him weill suffice.

“That rebald wenys, for he has done supprice

“To my pepill oft apon awentur,

“Agaynys me [that] he may lang endur.360

“To this proffyr gaynstandand giff he be,

“Her I awow he sall be hyngyt hye.”

A yong squier, was brothir to Fehew,

He thocht he wald dysgysit [ga] to persew,

Wallace to se that tuk so hie a part;365

Born sister sone he was to king Eduuart.

A cot off armes he tuk on him but baid;

With the harroldis full prewaly he raid

To Tynto hill with outyn residens,

Quhar Wallace lay with his folk at defence.370

A likly ost, as of sa few, thai fand;

Till hym thai socht, and wald no langar stand:

“Gyff ye be he that rewllis all this thing,

“Credence we haiff brocht fra our worthi king.”

Than Wallace gert thre knychtis till him call,375

Syne red the wryt in presens off thaim all.

To thaim he said; “Ansuer ye sall nocht craiff;

“Be wryt or word quhilk likis yow best till haiff?”

‘In wryt,’ thai said, ‘it war the liklyast.’

Than Wallace thus began to dyt in hast:380

“Thow reyffar king chargis me throw cass,

“That I suld cum, and put me in thi grace.

“Gyff I gaynstand, thow hechtis till hyng me:

“I wow to God, and euir I may tak the,

“Thow sall be hangyt, ane exempill to geiff385

“To kingis off reyff, als lang as I may leiff.

“Thow profferis me thi wage for till haiff;

“I the defy, power and all the laiff,

“At helpis the her, off thi fals natioun.

“Will God, thow sall be put off this regioune,390

“Or de tharfor, contrar thocht thow had suorne.Fol. 38 a

Fol. 38 a

“Thow sall ws se or nyne houris to morn,

“Battaill to gyff, magre off all thi kyn;

“For falsly thow sekis our rewme to wyn.”

This wryt he gaiff to the harraldis but mar,395

And gud reward he gart delyuer thaim thar.

Bot Jop knew weyll the squier yong Fehew,

And tald Wallace, for he wes euir trew.

Than he command, that thai suld sone thaim tak:

Him selff began a sair cusyng to mak.400

“Squier,” he said, “sen thow has fenyeit armys;

“On the sall fall the fyrst part off thir harmys,

“Sampill to geyff till all thi fals natioune.”

Apon the hill he gert thaim set him downe,

Straik off his hed, or thai wald forthyr go.405

To the herrold said syne with outyn ho;

“For thow art falss till armys and maynsuorn,

“Throuch thi chokkis thi tong sall be out schorn.”

Quhen that was doyne, than to the thrid said he;

“Armyss to juge thow sall neuir graithly se.”410

He gert a smyth, with his turkas rycht thar,

Pow out his eyne, syne gaiff thaim leiff to far.

“To your falss king thi falow sall thou leid;

“With my ansuer turss him his newois heid:

“Thus sar I drede the king, and all his bost.”415

His dum falow [led] hym on to thair ost.

Quhen king Eduuard his herroldis thus has seyne,

In propyr ire he wox ner wode for teyne,

That he nocht wyst on quhat wiss him to wreke;

For sorow almaist a word he mycht nocht spek.420

A lang quhill he stud wrythand in a rage;

On loud he said; “This is a fell owtrage,

“This deid to Scottis full der it sall be boucht;

“Sa dispitfull in warld was neuir wroucht.

“Off this regioun I think nocht for to gang,425

“Quhill tyme that I sall se that rybald hang,”

Lat I him thus in till his sorow duell;

Off thai gud Scottis schortly I will yow tell.

Furth fra his men than Wallace rakit rycht;

Till him he cald Schyr Jhon Tynto the knycht,430

And leit him witt, to wesy him selff wald ga

The Ingliss ost, and bad him tell na ma,

Quhat euir thai speryt, quhill that he come agayne.

Wallace dysgysit thus bownyt our the playne.

Betwix Cultir and Bygar as he past,435

He was [sone] war quhar a werk man come fast,

Dryfande a mere, and pychars had he to sell.

“Gud freynd,” he said, “in treuth will thow me tell,Fol. 38 b

Fol. 38 b

“With this chaffar quhar passis thow treuly.”

‘Till ony, Schyr, quha likis for to by;440

‘It is my crafft, and I wald [sell] thaim fayne.’

“I will thaim by, sa God me saiff fra payne;

“Quhat price lat her, I will tak thaim ilkayne.”

‘Bot half a mark, for sic pryss haiff I tayne.’

“Twenty shillingis,” Wallace said, “thow sall haiff;445

“I will haiff mer, pycharis and als the laiff.

“Thi gowne and hoiss in haist thow put off syne,

“And mak a chang, for I sall geyff the myne;

“And thi ald hud, becauss it is thred bar.”

The man wend weyll that he had scornyt him thar.450

“Do, tary nocht, it is suth I the say.”

The man kest off his febill weid off gray,

And Wallace his, and payit siluer in hand.

“Pass on,” he said, “thou art a proud merchand.”

The gown and hoiss in clay that claggit was,455

The hude heklyt, and maid him for to pass.

The qwhipe he tuk, syne furth the mar can call;

Atour a bray the omast pot gert fall,

Brak on the ground. The man lewch at his fair;

‘Bot thow be war, thow tynys off thi chaiffair.’460

The sone be than was passit out off sicht,

The day our went, and cummyn was the nycht.

Amang Sotheroun full besyly he past;

On athir side his eyne he gan to cast,

Quhar lordis lay, and had thair lugeyng maid.465

The kingis palyone, quhar on the libardis baid,

Spyand full fast, quhar his awaill suld be,

And couth weyll luk and wynk, with the ta E.

Sum scornyt him, sum gleid carll cald him thar;

Agrewit thai war for thair herroldis mysfayr.470

Sum sperd at him, how [he] sald off the best.

“For fourty pens,” he said, “quhill thai may lest.”

Sum brak a pott, sum pyrlit at his E.

Wallace fled out, and prewalé leit thaim be:

On till his ost agayne he past full rycht.475

His men be than had tane Tynto the knycht;

Schyr Jhon the Grayme gert bynd him wondyr fast,

For he wyst weill he was with Wallace last.

Sum bad byrn him, sum hang him in a cord;

Thai swor that he had dissawit thair lord.480

Wallace be this was entryt thaim amang;

Till him he yeid, and wald nocht tary lang.

Syne he gart louss him off thai bandis new,

And said, he was baith suffer, wyss and trew.

To souper sone thai bownd but mar abaid.485Fol. 39 a

Fol. 39 a

He tald to thaim quhat market he had maid;

And how at he the Sotheroun saw full weill.

Schyr Jhon the Grayme displessit was sumdeill,

And said till him; “Nocht chyftaynlik it was,

“Throw wilfulnes, in sic perell to pas.”490

Wallace ansuerd; ‘Or we wyn Scotland fre,

‘Baith ye and I in mor perell mon be,

‘And mony othir, the quhilk full worthi is.

‘Now off a thing we do sumpart amys.

‘A litill slepe I wald fayne that we had;495

‘With yone men syne luk how we may ws glaid.’

The worthi Scottis tuk gud rest quhill ner day;

Than raiss thai wp, till ray sone ordand thai.

The hill thai left, and till a playne is gayne;

Wallace him selff the wantguard he has tayne:500

With him was Boid and Awchinlek but dreid,

With a thousand off worthi men in weid.

Alss mony syne in the mydwart put he;

Schir Jhon the Grayme he gert thar ledar be:

With him Adam young lord off Ricardtoun,505

And Somerwaill a squier off renoun.

The thrid thousand in [the] rerward he dycht,

Till Waltir gaiff off Newbyggyn the knycht;

With him Tynto that douchty wes in deid,

And Daui son off Schyr Waltir, to leid.510

Behynd thaim ner, the fute men gert he be;

And bade thaim bid, quhill thai thar tyme mycht se:

“Ye want wapynnys and harnes in this tid;

The fyrst cowntir ye may nocht weill abid.”

Wallace gert sone the chyftaynis till him call;515

This charg he gaiff, for chance that mycht befall,

Till tak no heid to ger, nor off pylage,

“For thai will fle as wod [men] in a rage.

“Wyne fyrst the men, the gud syne ye may haiff;

“Than tak na tent off cowatyss to craiff.520

“Throuch cowatyss sum lossis gud and lyff;

“I commaund yow forber sic in our stryff.

“Luk that ye saiff na lord, capteyne, nor knycht;

“For worschipe wyrk, and for our eldris rycht.

“God blyss ws, [that] may we in sic wiage525

“Put thir falss folk out off our heretage.”

Than thai inclynd all with a gudly will;

His playne commaund thai hecht for to fullfill.

On the gret ost thir partice fast can draw,Fol. 39 bCumand to thaim, out off the south, thai saw:530Thre hundreth men, in till thar armour cler,The gaynest way to thaim approchit ner.Wallace said sone, thai war na Inglissmen;For by this ost the gatis weyll thai ken.Thom Haliday thai men he gydyt rycht;535Off Anadderdaill he had thaim led that nycht.His twa gud sonnis, Wallas and Rudyrfurd,Wallace was blyth fra he had hard thair wourd;So was the laiff off his gud chewalry.Jarden thar come in till thar cumpany;540And Kyrkpatrik, befor in Esdaill was;A weyng thai war in Wallace ost to pass.The Ingliss wach, that nycht had beyne on steir,Drew to thair ost rycht as the day can per.Wallace knew weill, for he befor had seyne,545The kings palyon, quhar it was buskit beyne.Than with rych horss the Scottis vpon thaim raid:The fyrst cownter so gret abaysing maid,That all the ost was stunyst of that sicht;Full mony ane derffly to ded was dicht.550Feill off thaim was as than out off aray;The mair haisté and awfull was the fray.The noyis rouschit throuch straikis that thai dang.The rewmour raiss so rudly thaim amang,That all the ost was than in poynt to fle.555The wyss lordis, fra thai the perell se,The fellone fray, all rasyt wes about;And how thar king stud in so mekill dout;Till his palyone, how mony thousand socht,Him to reskew be ony way thai mocht!560The erle of Kent that nycht [had] walkand beyne,With fyve thousand off men in armour cleyne;About the king full sodandly thai gang,And traistis weyll, the sailye wes rycht strang.All Wallace folk in wyss off wer was gud,565In to the stour sone lychtyt quhar thai stud.Quham euir thai hyt, na harnes mycht thaim stynt,Fra thai on fute semblit with suerdis dynt;Off manheid thai in hartis cruell was,Thai thocht to wyn, or neuir thine to pass.570Feill Inglissmen before the king thai slew.Schir Jhon the Grayme come with his power newAmang the ost; with the mydwart he raid;Gret martyrdome on Sotheroun men thai maid.The rerward than set on sa hardely,575With Newbyggyn, and all the chewalry;Fol. 40 aPalyone rapys thai cuttyt in to sowndyr,Borne to the ground, and mony smoryt owndir.The fute men come, the quhilk I spak off ayr,On fräyt folk set strakis sad and sayr:580Thocht thai befor wantyt bath horss and ger,Anewch thai gat, quhat thai wald waill to wer.The Scottis power than all to gyddir war;The kingis palyon brymly doun thai bar.The erle off Kent, with a gud ax in hand,585Into the stour full stoutly couth he standBefor the king, makand full gret debait:Quha best did than, he had the heast stait.The felloune stour so stalwart was and strang,Thar to contened marwalusly and lang.590Wallace him saw, full sadly couth persew,And at a straik the cheiff chyftayne he slew.The Sotheron folk fled fast, and durst nocht byd;Horssit thair king and off the feild couth rideAgaynis his will, for he was laith to fle;595In to that tyme he thocht nocht for to de.Off his best men four thousand thar was dede,Or he couth fynd to fle and leiff that stede.Twenty thousand with him fled in a staill.The Scottis gat horss, and folowit that battaill600Throuch Cultir hope; or tyme thai wan the hycht,Feill Sotheroun folk was marryt in thair mycht,Slayne be the gait as thair king fled away.Bathe fair, and brycht, and rycht cler was the day,The sone ryssyn, schynand our hill and daill.605Than Wallace kest quhat was his grettest waill,The fleand folk, that off the feild fyrst past,In to thair king agayne releiffit fast.Fra athir sid so mony semblit thar,That Wallace wald lat folow thaim no mar;610Befor he raid, gart his folk turn agayne.Off Inglissmen sewyn thousand thar was slayne.Than Wallace ost agayne to Beggar raid,Quhar Inglissmen gret purwians had maid.The jowalré, as it was thiddir led,615Palyonis and all thai leiffit quhen thai fled.The Scottis gat gold, gud, ger, and othir wage;Relewyt thai war, at partit that pilage.To meit thai went, with myrthis and plesance;Thai sparyt nocht king Eduuardis purweance.620Fol. 40 bWith solace syne a litill sleyp thai ta;A prewa wach he gart amang thaim ga.Twa kukis fell, thair lyffis for to saiff,With dede corssys that lay wnputt in graiff;Quhen thai saw weyll the Scottis war at rest,625Out off the feild to steill thaim thocht it best.Full law thai crap, quhill thai war out off sicht;Eftir the ost syne ran in all thair mycht.Quhen that the Scottis had slepyt bot a quhill,Than raiss thai wp, for Wallace dredyt gyll.630He said to thaim; “The Sotherone may persewe“Agayne to ws, for thai ar folk enew.“Quhar Ingliss men prowisioune makis in wer,“It is full hard to do thaim mekill der.“On this playne feild we will thaim nocht abid;635“To sum gud strenth my purpos is to ryd.”The purweance, that left was in that stede,To Ropis Bog he gert serwandis it lede,With ordinance at Sothroun broucht in thar.He with the ost to Dawis schaw can far;640And thar ramaynede a gret space off the day.Off Ingliss men yeit sum thing will I say.

On the gret ost thir partice fast can draw,Fol. 39 b

Fol. 39 b

Cumand to thaim, out off the south, thai saw:530

Thre hundreth men, in till thar armour cler,

The gaynest way to thaim approchit ner.

Wallace said sone, thai war na Inglissmen;

For by this ost the gatis weyll thai ken.

Thom Haliday thai men he gydyt rycht;535

Off Anadderdaill he had thaim led that nycht.

His twa gud sonnis, Wallas and Rudyrfurd,

Wallace was blyth fra he had hard thair wourd;

So was the laiff off his gud chewalry.

Jarden thar come in till thar cumpany;540

And Kyrkpatrik, befor in Esdaill was;

A weyng thai war in Wallace ost to pass.

The Ingliss wach, that nycht had beyne on steir,

Drew to thair ost rycht as the day can per.

Wallace knew weill, for he befor had seyne,545

The kings palyon, quhar it was buskit beyne.

Than with rych horss the Scottis vpon thaim raid:

The fyrst cownter so gret abaysing maid,

That all the ost was stunyst of that sicht;

Full mony ane derffly to ded was dicht.550

Feill off thaim was as than out off aray;

The mair haisté and awfull was the fray.

The noyis rouschit throuch straikis that thai dang.

The rewmour raiss so rudly thaim amang,

That all the ost was than in poynt to fle.555

The wyss lordis, fra thai the perell se,

The fellone fray, all rasyt wes about;

And how thar king stud in so mekill dout;

Till his palyone, how mony thousand socht,

Him to reskew be ony way thai mocht!560

The erle of Kent that nycht [had] walkand beyne,

With fyve thousand off men in armour cleyne;

About the king full sodandly thai gang,

And traistis weyll, the sailye wes rycht strang.

All Wallace folk in wyss off wer was gud,565

In to the stour sone lychtyt quhar thai stud.

Quham euir thai hyt, na harnes mycht thaim stynt,

Fra thai on fute semblit with suerdis dynt;

Off manheid thai in hartis cruell was,

Thai thocht to wyn, or neuir thine to pass.570

Feill Inglissmen before the king thai slew.

Schir Jhon the Grayme come with his power new

Amang the ost; with the mydwart he raid;

Gret martyrdome on Sotheroun men thai maid.

The rerward than set on sa hardely,575

With Newbyggyn, and all the chewalry;Fol. 40 a

Fol. 40 a

Palyone rapys thai cuttyt in to sowndyr,

Borne to the ground, and mony smoryt owndir.

The fute men come, the quhilk I spak off ayr,

On fräyt folk set strakis sad and sayr:580

Thocht thai befor wantyt bath horss and ger,

Anewch thai gat, quhat thai wald waill to wer.

The Scottis power than all to gyddir war;

The kingis palyon brymly doun thai bar.

The erle off Kent, with a gud ax in hand,585

Into the stour full stoutly couth he stand

Befor the king, makand full gret debait:

Quha best did than, he had the heast stait.

The felloune stour so stalwart was and strang,

Thar to contened marwalusly and lang.590

Wallace him saw, full sadly couth persew,

And at a straik the cheiff chyftayne he slew.

The Sotheron folk fled fast, and durst nocht byd;

Horssit thair king and off the feild couth ride

Agaynis his will, for he was laith to fle;595

In to that tyme he thocht nocht for to de.

Off his best men four thousand thar was dede,

Or he couth fynd to fle and leiff that stede.

Twenty thousand with him fled in a staill.

The Scottis gat horss, and folowit that battaill600

Throuch Cultir hope; or tyme thai wan the hycht,

Feill Sotheroun folk was marryt in thair mycht,

Slayne be the gait as thair king fled away.

Bathe fair, and brycht, and rycht cler was the day,

The sone ryssyn, schynand our hill and daill.605

Than Wallace kest quhat was his grettest waill,

The fleand folk, that off the feild fyrst past,

In to thair king agayne releiffit fast.

Fra athir sid so mony semblit thar,

That Wallace wald lat folow thaim no mar;610

Befor he raid, gart his folk turn agayne.

Off Inglissmen sewyn thousand thar was slayne.

Than Wallace ost agayne to Beggar raid,

Quhar Inglissmen gret purwians had maid.

The jowalré, as it was thiddir led,615

Palyonis and all thai leiffit quhen thai fled.

The Scottis gat gold, gud, ger, and othir wage;

Relewyt thai war, at partit that pilage.

To meit thai went, with myrthis and plesance;

Thai sparyt nocht king Eduuardis purweance.620Fol. 40 b

Fol. 40 b

With solace syne a litill sleyp thai ta;

A prewa wach he gart amang thaim ga.

Twa kukis fell, thair lyffis for to saiff,

With dede corssys that lay wnputt in graiff;

Quhen thai saw weyll the Scottis war at rest,625

Out off the feild to steill thaim thocht it best.

Full law thai crap, quhill thai war out off sicht;

Eftir the ost syne ran in all thair mycht.

Quhen that the Scottis had slepyt bot a quhill,

Than raiss thai wp, for Wallace dredyt gyll.630

He said to thaim; “The Sotherone may persewe

“Agayne to ws, for thai ar folk enew.

“Quhar Ingliss men prowisioune makis in wer,

“It is full hard to do thaim mekill der.

“On this playne feild we will thaim nocht abid;635

“To sum gud strenth my purpos is to ryd.”

The purweance, that left was in that stede,

To Ropis Bog he gert serwandis it lede,

With ordinance at Sothroun broucht in thar.

He with the ost to Dawis schaw can far;640

And thar ramaynede a gret space off the day.

Off Ingliss men yeit sum thing will I say.

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